Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Redding, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 20 of 23 categories
Redding
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Surprise
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Redding, CA
Pros
Rent averages $544/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Surprise by $20,433/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Surprise, AZ
Pros
83% less violent crime than Redding
Households earn $20,433 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 57°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$20,433
$87,756 vs $67,323/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
83% lower
109.1 vs 647.8 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 99.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Redding, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.8⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,278 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,323 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 170⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Redding Elementary | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.2°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 99.9°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,327 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Redding's cost of living index is 102.8 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 20 of 23 categories. Redding wins 3 and Surprise wins 20. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Redding to Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($343,000 vs $352,600 median home), income ($67,323 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Redding, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 724 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.